AOT: The Bet (SOON TO BE PUBLISHED UNDER PIP)

Chapter 14

Tahimik na pinagmamasdan ni Adira ang karagatan mula sa kaniyang bintana. Siya'y kinakabahan sa kadahilanang nandito si Maxon sa loob ng kanilang munting bahay. She heard everything and the truth is she’s on verge of crying because of what her step-mother said.

Isang malakas na pagkatok mula sa kaniyang pinto ang nagbalik ng kaniyang lumilipad na diwa. Siya'y humugot ng isang malalim na hininga at bahagya pang tinapik ang kaniyang magkabilaang pisngi bago nagsalita.

"P-pasok!" nauutal na sigaw ni Adira.

Pagkatapos ng kaniyang sinabi ay siya ring pagbukas ng kaniyang pintuan at doon tumambad sa kaniya si Maxon na kagaya niya ay may maitim na ilalim ng mga mata but his dark under eyes didn’t make him ugly even a bit—unlike her.

Her heart skipped a beat when their eyes met. Her lips quiver and her eyes began to wet.

She's on the verge of crying. She missed him...very much.

"Adira..." Maxon said softly while eyeing Adira lovingly.

"H-hey..." saad ni Adira at pilit na ngumiti.

"If you don't mind, can I sit beside you?" Maxon asked.

"Oo naman,"  casual na sagot ni Adira.

Maxon made his way towards Adira's bed. He sat on the right edge of her bed and he stared at Adira's face longingly.

 Agad namang nag-iwas ng tingin si Adira at sinabing, "Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

"I'm here for you," paos na wika ni Maxon.

"Bakit? Anong kailangan mo sa'kin? May hindi ka pa ba nasabi? Maliban sa, s-slut...w-whore...a-at...g-gold digger?" ani Adira habang nakatingin sa malayo.

Adira’s heart is wrecking once again because of the painful words and scenario that keeps on playing inside of her head.

"No, Adira. I'm here to say sorry. Iyong mga sinabi ko? I didn't mean it. It's just that...nadala ako ng galit. I know you're not like that and I know you have a reason. So please...hear me out," Maxon pleaded.

Adira heave a sigh and look at Maxon seriously who's also in verge of crying. Adira bit her lower lip hard to surpass her emotion and said, "Nothing will change even if I tell you the reason. Ang mabuti pa, umuwi ka na lang. Nagsasayang ka lang ng oras dito...sa'kin,"

"May magbabago Adira. Just—just tell me the truth. I promise that I won't judge you. Wala kang maririnig mula sa akin na kahit na ano...basta sabihin mo lamang sa'kin ang totoo," pagsusumamo ni Maxon.

"Umuwi kana," walang buhay na saad ni Adira at muling binalingan ng tingin ang karagatang tanaw niya lamang mula sa kaniyang nakabukas na bintana.

"I don't want to. I missed you. I won't say those words again...just please...talk to me," ani Maxon at nagtungo sa harapan ni Adira.

Naiinis na tumayo si Adira mula sa kaniyang higaan at tiningnan ng masama ang lalaking nasa kaniyang harapan.

"Ano bang hindi mo maintindihan Mr. Ruscitti? Hindi ba't sinabi kong umalis ka na? O, baka naman gusto mo inglisen ko pa ang mga binitawan kong salita?" naiinis na saad Adira.

"I won't leave you alone especially in that kind of situation," ani Maxon at tingnan si Adira mula ulo hanggang paa.

Peke namang tumawa si Adira at sinabing, "Nakikita mo ba ang sarili mo ngayon, Maxon? You have dark circles around your eyes. Napakagulo rin ng buhok mo and you have stubble in your face. Kaya go back to your mansion and fix yourself. I can fix myself, so leave me alone. I don't need you here,"

Pain crosses to Maxon's eyes and face. He's already expecting that this is going to happen but he doesn't expect that he'll be hurting so much. He's in pain, even in the past few days, weeks and months.